At 14,115 feet, Pikes Peak Mountain is America’s Mountain. Take the 19-mile highway to the clouds to explore Colorado’s most famous peak.

Explore Pikes Peak Mountain in the comfort of your car!

Grab your family and bring your own car to take this 19-mile scenic journey above the clouds! The safe, scenic highway provides you the opportunity to enjoy Pikes Peak Mountain and the Pikes Peak Highway at your leisure. From the gateway at an elevation of 7,400 feet, you’ll encounter some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world as you wind your way through an alpine wonderland of scenic beauty, mountain reservoirs, beyond timberline, overtaking the clouds…all along the way to the 14,115 foot summit of America’s most famous mountain.

Along the way, you’ll discover the North Slope Recreation Area, Crystal Reservoir Gift Shop, Historic Glen Cove Inn, and the Summit House. There are three lakes for fishing, picnic areas, hiking trails, and breathtaking views. Stop and watch one of our “Meet the Ranger” Interpretive Programs and learn about the history, myths, flora and fauna on the mountain. All offer visitor services and basic necessities to make your day both enjoyable and memorable.

Hours:

Prices:

Adult

Children (6-15)

Carload (5 Max)

Jan to April 30

$10

$4

$35

(*Extra Carload Passengers are $7 Adult, $2 Child)

Location:

Pikes Peak- America’s Mountain and the entrance to the Pikes Peak Highway are located West of Colorado Springs in Cascade. Follow these directions or enter 5089 Pikes Peak Highway, Cascade, CO 80809 into your GPS or Phone.

Off Highway 24:

– Head West past Manitou Springs.
– Turn Left at the First Light (Fountain Ave) into Cascade.
– You will run into the Pikes Peak Highway Toll Booth.

Events

Pikes Peak Mountain can be very busy with tons of things to do and events going on. We want to make sure the mountain isn’t closed during your vacation. We do our best to update you on the closures on Pikes Peak each year.

On the following days, the Pikes Peak Highway is either closed or experience delays. Please plan accordingly.

Date

Reason

Open/ Delay

Tuesday, June 24 to Friday, June 27 (4 Days)

PPIHC Practice

Open Delayed until 9:00 a.m.

Sunday, June 29, 2014

PPIHC Race

CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC

Saturday August 16 & Sunday August 17

Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon

Open with some traffic delays

Sunday August 24, 2014

Pikes Peak Cycling Hill Climb

Open Delayed until 9:00 a.m.

Saturday September 6 & Sunday September 7

Pikes Peak Downhill Skateboard Race

Open with short traffic delays

Sunday, September 21

Pikes Peak Open Early for Photographers

Open at 5:15 a.m.

Fast Facts

Pikes Peak Mountain is located 15 minutes West of Colorado Springs on Highway 24. Turn left at the stoplight in Cascade.

Experience the famous Pikes Peak Mountain in Colorado! Home to the 19-mile Pikes Peak Highway, Colorado’s 31st highest peak is more famous than all the rest with over 500,000 people going to the summit each year!

The most visited mountain in North America and the second most visited mountain in the world behind Japan’s Mount Fuji, Pikes Peak forms a stunning backdrop for Colorado Springs and the Garden of the Gods. At an altitude of 14,115 feet above sea level, Pikes Peak is the 31st highest peak out of 54 Colorado peaks. It is the farthest east of the big peaks in the Rocky Mountain chain, which contributed to its early fame among explorers, pioneers and immigrants and made it the symbol of the 1859 Gold Rush to Colorado with the slogan, “Pikes Peak or Bust”. The 8.9-mile Cog Railway started operating year round in 2007 weather permitting.

Over a half million people reach the Summit House every year by the Pikes Peak Highway, Barr Trail or the Pikes Peak Cog Railway. The 19-mile Pikes Peak Highway is paved to the summit and is open year round, weather permitting. Barr Trail is the longest of any trails leading to the top of the 54 mountains in Colorado that are over 14,000 feet and offers the greatest base-to-summit elevation gain in the state – 7,400 feet. About 15,000 people a year attempt to climb Pikes Peak on foot. The 13-mile Barr Trail begins at the base of Pikes Peak in Manitou Springs. Check here for more tips on hiking Pikes Peak.

Four notable events take place on the mountain each year. The Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon, a 26-mile round trip foot race up Barr Trail and then back down each August, draws thousands of runners from all over the world. The current Pikes Peak Marathon record, which was set in 1993, is 3 hours 16 minutes 30 seconds. The second event, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is a race on the 12.42-mile road, which starts around the 6 1/2 mile mark on the highway. In 2011, Nobuhiro Tajima set a new record of 9 minutes 51 seconds. The third event is the Pikes Peak Challenge, an annual fundraiser for The Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado. The fourth event is the AdAmAn Club New Year’s Fireworks display on December 31 at midnight.

Q. Can we use our National Park pass?
A. Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain is not a national park so the national parks passes cannot be used.

Q. What is the temperature difference between Colorado Springs and the summit of Pikes Peak?
A. There is a dramatic difference of approximately 30 – 40 degrees, it is recommended that you bring a jacket year-round.

Q. How scary is the drive?
A. The highway’s width is the same as a regular highway. The average grade is 7% with some grades up to 13%. There are guardrails everywhere they are needed. That does not mean there are guardrails everywhere. When driving, stay between the painted lines and do not cross the center double yellow line. For those afraid of heights, especially above timberline, may stay at Glen Cove Inn, a visitor center, gift shop and grill while the rest of the group goes to the top.

Q. Why is there a brake check station when heading downhill?
A. As a courtesy, Rangers check the vehicle brake temperature. Brake fluid boils at 300 degrees and hot brakes may fail. Use low gears while descending and use the brakes as little as possible. Let the transmission and engine do the work on the decent.

Q. Is there overnight camping?
A. No, all visitors must exit by closing time.

Q. Do I need 4-Wheel drive vehicle or chains?
A. The road conditions must be safe for a two wheel drive vehicle before we open it. We are open to the highest elevation possible with safe driving conditions every day.

Q. Where do I catch the train?
A. The Pikes Peak Cog Railway is located in Manitou Springs, CO. on Ruxton Ave.

Q. When can I go fishing?
A. The North Slope Recreation Area is open for fishing from May 1 to the third Sunday in October.